By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State has come under scrutiny of alleged complicity in electoral fraud, with rights group urging the Commission to be neutral and non-partisan in the Governorship and State House of Assembly polls billed for March 18, 2023.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo on Sunday, the Akwa Ibom State Director of Center For Human Rights & Accountability Network (CHRAN), Otuekong Franklyn Isong said that, to sustain the existing peace enjoyed in the state, INEC must ensure neutrality, and guarantee free, fair and credible March 18 polls.
He said that the call become necessary going by what the group witnessed in the state during the Feb 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
CHRAN State Director, who, in collaboration with other Civil Society Groups, Professional Bodies and Trade Unions in Akwa Ibom, also hinted of a plots by some politicians in the state to import thugs from neighbouring states to mar the March 18 elections to favour a particular political party and its candidates.
To avert violence before and during the March 18 election in the state, the Rights Group called on security agencies in the state to be on alert especially around the riverine areas and border communities in the state.
“Going by our observations in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, the INEC was culpable and complicit in the electoral fraud and malpractices witnessed in the elections. INEC was a contestant instead of being a non-partisan electoral umpire. INEC provided the platform for the politicians who carried out rigging in large scale and electoral fraud in the polls.
“We wish to call on the INEC in Akwa Ibom State to be neutral and non-partisan in the Governorship and State House of Assembly polls billed for 28th March, 2023.
“Worrisome to us, is the fact that our intelligence network, however, reveals that some politicians in Akwa Ibom State are perfecting plots to import political thugs, as well as real and/or fake security personnel from neighboring states, particularly, Rivers, Abia and Bayelsa into Akwa Ibom State with the intention to subvert the votes and wishes of Akwa Ibom people during the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections billed for Saturday, 18th March, 2023.
“We hereby call on the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies to be on alert, and rise to the occasion of ensuring that the State remains peaceful while Akwa Ibom people go out en masse to elect the Governor and State House of Assembly Members of their choice come Saturday, 18th March, 2023.
“We urge the security agencies in the State to pay serious attention to our riverine and bordering communities before, during and after the elections.
Urging the politicians on the state not to see election as a do-or-die battle, Isong said, “We appeal to the political class, particularly, the governorship candidates and their supporters not to approach the forthcoming elections with the “do-or-die” spirit, but with the spirit of sportsmanship.
“No political office is worth the blood of any Akwa Ibomites. At the end of the elections, only one person will occupy the Office of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Akwa Ibom people will be the winners.” Isong added.
Recall during the Feb 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, CHRAN whose civic responsibility is to deepen democracy in Nigeria nay Akwa Ibom State, had mobilized its members across the State as observers. Some members of CHRAN joined sister and partnering civil society groups to monitor the election around the entire 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
The CHRAN also set up a Situation Room at its office in Uyo, where reports were received through a toll-free line and its social media platforms. In most cases, observer reports were accompanied with photographs and video clips. The State Director, Otuekong Isong told journalists.
